AFCON
Nigeria to bid for 2025 Afcon
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
With the possibility of stripping Guinea the hosting rights of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has entered into discussion with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the possibility of the country stepping in to rescue the tournament.
The hint was dropped by the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick at the launch of a book on Nigerian football legend, Tesilimi Balogun at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.
The Nigerian football chieftain explained to the audience that he came a little late as he was having a zoom meeting with CAF officials on Nigeria’s candidacy to host the continent’s flagship championship.
Nigeria had hosted the competition twice in the past – in 1980 and co-hosting with Ghana in 2000.
Just like that of 2000, the 2025 edition is being planned as a joint hosting of Nigeria and the neighbouring Benin Republic.
The regularity of the continental flagship championship has been distorted for some time now on account of force majeur.
The 2021 edition was held in 2022 in Cameroon. The 2023 edition in Cote d’Ivoire has been moved from its original date of June 2023 to January 2024.
Holding the 35th edition in 2025 means that two editions will be held back-to-back.
The political situation in Guinea which culminated in a military coup d’état in the country in September last year is a possible reason for the stripping of the country of the hosting rights of the 20225 AFCON.
AFCON
Prominent Libyan football official calls for tough sanction on those responsible for Super Eagles’ maltreatment
A prominent Libyan football official, Al-Siddiq Abu Hadima,has called for tough sanctions on the Libyan Football Federation officials responsible for the crisis that engulfed the suspended Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Hadima, a former president of the Al-Dhahra Club, asked for the dismissal and prosecution of those responsible for the crisis.
In a publication in Libya’s outlet. Al-Wasat, Hadima recommended that if such people failed to submit a report that will exonerate them when the Sunday 20 October deadline issued by CAF lapses, “then they must be prosecuted and permanently dismissed.”
Al-Wasat got Hadima’s comments from his post on Facebook and remarked that “this negligence – if it happened – constitutes a betrayal of trust and a lack of awareness of the gravity of responsibility.”
It will be recalled that the Nigerian delegation to the botched match was held up for close to 20 hours at an abandoned Labraq Airport where their aircraft already on descent was dangerously diverted to.
The Nigerians were left without food and water for nearly 20 hours. CAF has already strongly condemned the actions of the Libyans.
As an investigation into the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations match, the Libyan FA secretary, Nasser Al-Suwaie has raised queries on the integrity of the personnel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a report published in the online version of Libyaalahrar.tv, Al-Suwaie remarked that there may be collusion from some parties within CAF, but the position of the Libyan Federation is strong.
He added that the Libyan Federation did not change the course of the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq Airport, and the reason for changing the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq was a decision by the Libyan state, and that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by everyone.
He however was silent on why the team was held hostage at the Al Abraq Airport and why the Libyan FA did not provide any logistic support to the Nigerian team that was held up at the airport for more than 16 hours without food and water.
Sources in Libya have confirmed that the Libyan Football Federation is under investigation over the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifier which failed to hold last Tuesday.
Nasser Al-Suwaie, Secretary-General of the Libyan FA, reportedly confirmed that the body has been queried by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Libyan FA has been asked to submit documents related to the cancellation of the match.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar, the FA has given them up till Sunday 20 October to submit the documents related to this file.
The Libyan FA secretary general, Al-Suwaie indicated that the body has assigned a specialized lawyer to provide evidence.
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